2011 Mazda 2: A very nice surprise

Since this model’s world premiere launch at the 2007 Geneva International Auto Show, journalists and Mazda dealers alike were asking the manufacturer why this lovely subcompact wasn’t offered on the American and Canadian markets. Mazda repeatedly used a lack of production capacity and even a potentially limited market as excuses for the decision.

But the situation has changed in recent months, and Mazda has decided that the time has come to bring us this subcompact that has been so successful everywhere else on the planet. In many countries, the Mazda2 was named Car of the Year and it was even chosen as the 2008 World Car of the Year. We can’t be sure, but it’s very likely that the arrival of the Ford Fiesta on our market helped convince the Hiroshima-based manufacturer to bring the Mazda2 to North America.

The Zoom Zoom look

For a long time, I always thought that Mazda’s Zoom Zoom slogan was just a marketing ploy or nothing more than hocus-pocus. But after many years and many models, it’s clear that most new Mazdas respect this philosophy that aims to offer us cars that feature above average sportiness and a more pleasant ride. This vision has also influenced the design.

For example, a lot of cars in this category settle for offering a relatively square body in order to maximize the space in the passenger compartment. Mazda decided to conserve the family’s sporty style and to reduce the front and rear overhangs as much as possible in order to offer a truly spacious passenger compartment for the category. This wedge-shaped silhouette with its plunging hood and raised tail end is also very nice. Note that the stylists retained the Mazda smile with an elliptical air intake located under the front grille. The front seats also have reasonably generous windows that diminish in the rear because of a beltline that rises toward the back. This little car comes equipped with very large rear-view mirrors, which we really appreciated.

Subcompact doesn’t mean a lifeless passenger compartment anymore. The dashboard is young and modern with its circular air vents framing a central console where you’ll find the radio and climate controls. As you’d expect, three large buttons help regulate the air conditioning. The radio is unique because of its circular dial where the upper part displays the selected station.

Whether you choose the four-speed automatic or the five-speed manual, the stick shift is located on a module found on the dashboard. For the North American versions, the console between the two front seats containing the cup holders was specially designed to accommodate larger sized cups. The driving position is good and the steering wheel is comfortable. On the better equipped versions, the radio and cruise control commands are located on the steering wheel’s horizontal branches. A speedometer is in the centre of the instrument module while the smaller indicator on the left is the rev-counter. On the right, the multifunctional screen displays a great deal of data.

The front seats feature a good level of comfort, even though the thigh support is relatively short. After several hours at the wheel of the new Mazda, we were still tip-top. The rear seats are surprisingly good considering that this is a relatively small car. By the way, it’s easier to get into the back seats than it is with the Ford Fiesta, the model to which it will always be compared since the two shares the same platform.

A Weight Watcher model

Fear not, there isn’t a special version for people who follow this particular weight loss system, but the engineers seem to have put this little Japanese model on the diet. Let me explain: rather than increasing the power and engine capacity to compensate for the car’s excess weight, the engineers preferred to reduce the vehicle’s weight. We became fond of various features. For example, they used a lot more high quality steel for the body. This steel is stronger, but it’s also 22.68 kg lighter. The suspension components have also been made lighter, to the tune of 12.7 kg. We also appreciated the multiple smaller elements that became lighter, down to the bundle of wires. Those in charge of the car’s development applied the same weight reduction rules as for the MX-5, including the hood anchoring system, the magnet for the front door speakers as well as their supports.

Simple mechanics

During the presentation of this model, little was said about the powertrain and the layout of the mechanical components. As with the MX-5, the goal was not to make the most powerful car, but to make the one that was the most fun to drive and offered excellent performances for the price. By using well-adapted mechanics and a very light car, they were able to obtain the desired dynamic traits. This 1.5-litre, four-cylinder engine featuring 100 hp isn’t the most powerful in its category, but its output and the lightness of the car are decent. The engine has a linear character and its accelerations are quite harmonious. The five-speed manual has well-selected gears and the stick shift moves with precision. The most questionable mechanical feature is definitely the four-speed automatic transmission, since most of the competitors’ models are offering at least another gear. Mazda explained this decision by saying that they wanted to make the vehicle lighter and that this transmission is well suited to this car’s dynamics once you get behind the wheel.

Excellent balance!

We were sceptical about how much fun it would be to drive the Mazda2 due to the rather modest power of the drivetrain. However, we were convinced after only a few kilometres behind the wheel: the little car is full of Zoom-Zoom. It’s quiet, solid and proposes good handling.  On the highway, it doesn’t feel like you’re driving a subcompact at all. What’s more, the steering is precise and the suspension is well calibrated. We drove on very bumpy roads and the suspension passed with flying colours. We also test drove a version with the four-speed automatic gearbox. Overall, it was a positive experience and if you ignore the transmission, you’ll be satisfied with the performances. However, a person who demands greater performance will bemoan the absence of one or two gears.

All things considered, the Mazda2 should end up being very successful. The exterior package is excellent and the ride is undeniably fun. Add to that a very competitive price range and you have the recipe for guaranteed popularity.